Journalists write "knowingly" on the situation in Israel without ever living here; without first hand knowledge of what it means to live in this tiny country in the midst of a rather unfriendly neighbourhood.
I write without vengeance, without hatred, just what I experience,the view from my veranda and the thoughts in my head.
My archive is available at www.lingomatics.com/Shabbatshalom/index.html

About Me

I am a freelance journalist living in Jerusalem. I strive to tell the truth as it is never seen in the media - the life of one Israeli trying to get along with everyone but not willing to deny her past nor her identity.

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

160928 Shimon Peres z"l

At 07:00 this morning
Israel awoke to the news that Shimon Peres had passed away. Despite his 93
years it came as a surprise, after all Shimon Peres was as spritely and alert
as ever, wasn't he?

Szymon
Perski born on
August 2nd 1923, in Vishneya, Belarus fled persecution and the
imminent war, and came to the nascent state. From the very beginning he became
involved and ultimately his political
career spanned an incredible 66 years.

Intensely intelligent
and unafraid of confrontation Shimon Peres served in many governmental positions
serving his country since the founding of the state yet political popularity
seemed to evade him. It was not until he set politics aside and took the
position of President of the State of Israel did he flourish into a true
Statesman, representing Israel with great honour.

Shimon Peres believed
one should seek peace but prepare for war. His critics always said he sought
peace at any price but they were wrong. After the 6 Day War it was Shimon Peres
who encouraged building in Yehuda and Shomron – Ofra was Shimon Peres special
project and the settlement was built in 1975 when he was Israel's Minister of
Defence with the backing of the Labour Government. It was Shimon Peres who fought the entire
Israeli establishment, political, financial and scientific, and succeeded in building the Dimona Nuclear
facility, raising the funds and importing scientists from overseas.

His relationship with
Yitzchak Rabin was strained. It is said that he drew Rabin into the Oslo
Accords https://www.knesset.gov.il/lexicon/eng/oslo_eng.htm
and it is easy to criticise what turned out to be an untenable accord but
Shimon Peres brought hope, however short lived. He never lost his determination
to find a solution to Israel's insecurity. He said "One should never stop
finding a solution to problems but there are problems that one simply has to
learn to live with them"

He was fascinated by
nanotechnology, indeed technology in general. His mind kept sharp by
surrounding himself with young people, he loved to learn, to read……. He didn't
watch television or go to the movies but he absorbed several books every day.

Very recently he
suggested to the Chief of Staff of the IDF that every serving soldier be given
funds to study at university, and that all schools teach a second and third
language other than Hebrew and English.

He ate sparingly, mostly
fruit and vegetables and performed suitable exercise every morning.

Zvi and I had the
privilege of being invited to his Presidential Conferences where no matter how
renowned the speakers, how famous their works, how erudite their lectures, the
highlight was always when he sat alone on the stage, 3,500 people waiting to
hear what he had to say. He spoke without notes, his thoughts always expressed
with exceptional clarity and enormous humour. His favourite sparring partner on
these occasions was Tony Blair, no mean speaker himself. On one such occasion,
the entire hall was silent, awaiting President Peres words of wisdom, and he
sat alone on stage reading a newspaper! Unhurriedly he looked up from the page
and announced that he was reading about India "Did you know that India has
been unable to replace its official hangman for six months?" The assembled
dignitaries jiggled uncomfortably in their seats, had the old man finally lost
it? "You know I have no problem with a country that cannot find anyone to
take the place of the official hangman having nuclear weapons. I have a problem
with countries where everybody wants to be the hangman having nuclear
weapons."

As President he garnered
respect and love from politicians and statesmen from around the world. His
regal manner and ability to respond to any situation brought him the popularity
that had evaded him throughout his political career. Thousands of Israelis, young and old alike, will walk
past his coffin in front of the Knesset paying homage to a great Israeli; Leaders
from around the world will come for his funeral on Friday paying apt tribute to
someone who worked so hard to bring peace. He would have been very disappointed
that neither King Abdullah nor General Al Sisi will be there.

Perhaps the life of
Shimon Peres is best described in pictures. I leave you with this from the
Times of Israel.